Transcript Green Words and Thesis Development

Green Words
and Thesis
Development
August 21, 2013
Warm-Up
*Turn in “Show and Tell” Article to class
bin*
 YOU HAVE THE “I HAVE A DREAM”
SPEECH IN FRONT OF YOU. YOU ARE
ABOUT TO WATCH A RECORDING OF
MLK JR. DELIVERING THIS SPEECH.
 Please listen carefully for the author’s
purpose and message.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/
mlkihaveadream.htm S:\Senior English\I have
a dream...[Martin Luther King].flv
Thesis development
 AFTER
YOU WATCH THE VIDEO, DEVELOP A
COHESIVE THESIS STATEMENT ON WHY THIS
SPEECH IS STILL SO IMPACTFUL TO
AMERICAN SOCIETY TODAY.
 Write this thesis down. Use the same piece
of paper to take notes on this powerpoint-you will turn it in later
 Set the speech aside
What is a “GREEN” word?
A
“GREEN” word is
 ABSTRACT (broad)
 HIGHLY CONNOTATIVE (multiple
meanings/interpretations)
 VALUE-DRIVEN (influenced by
personal beliefs, values, morals,
etc.)
EXAMPLE:
 "Wealth"
 Is
"wealth" an abstract idea?
 Does wealth have connotative
significance?
 Does your definition of "wealth" say
anything about what you value?
YOUR TURN
 Make
a list of 10 words that represent
"green" concepts
So how does this help me write
a better thesis?
 Your
thesis should be driven by a
combination of strong green words
 Because of their connotative,
value-driven nature, a “green”
word based thesis will automatically
drive your paper toward persuasion.
Try this:
 Look
at your list of green words.
Create a sentence utilizing three of
these words. It can be about
anything (school appropriate, of
course!).
STOP!
 Did
you just write a three-prong
thesis?
 If you did CROSS IT OUT!
Round 2:



Write another sentence using three of your
green words, BUT this time follow this formula:
Create and “although” statement using ONE
green word in the dependent clause (at the
beginning) and TWO in the independent
clause (back half).
Example for The Glass Castle:
Although the Wells children grow up in
deprivation, their determination and intelligence
drive them to become successful human beings.
 deprivation = counterargument
 Intelligence/successful= arguable point to
prove in essay
Rewind


Go back to the “I Have A Dream” speech
Highlight (preferably in GREEN) the GREEN
concepts in his speech. This is an INDIVIDUAL
activity.
AFTER you have highlighted, pair up with
someone at your table to debate the
accuracy of your highlighted words
Are they:
1. Abstract
2. Strongly Connotative
3. Value Driven

On your original paper:
 List
3-5 strong green concepts from the
speech
 REWRITE your original thesis on the
following:
 DEVELOP A COHESIVE THESIS STATEMENT
ON WHY THIS SPEECH IS STILL SO
IMPACTFUL TO AMERICAN SOCIETY
TODAY. Use your green words and
formula this time.